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By Ian KullgrenTHE COLUMBUS DISPATCH • Saturday July 13, 2013 9:32 AM

The state’s paper lottery-ticket sales dropped 1 percent in a year, but the majority of Ohio’s
gambling revenue still comes from the traditional lottery even as casinos and video slots spring up
across the state.During the past fiscal year, which ended on June 30, Ohioans spent $2.7 billion on
paper lottery tickets, according to Ohio Lottery Commission data.

Video slots, also known as video lottery machines, brought in nearly$2 billion. Together, the
two — which fall under the Ohio Lottery Commission — raised a record $803 million for education.
Casino revenue totaled more than $500 million in the past fiscal year, with $83 million going to
schools.

The 1 percent drop in paper-ticket sales reversed 11 consecutive years of increases. Video slots
revenue was up 3.4 percent over June 2012, meaning the pot of money for schools is still
growing.

June was the best month yet for video slots, which took in $277 million. Almost half came from
Scioto Downs.“We always have to reinvent ourselves,” said Danielle Frizzi-Babb, a lottery
spokeswoman. “We keep bringing out new things because we have to.”

Recently, the commission added a service allowing Keno players to view drawings from their
smartphones.Offering a variety of options — lottery, racinos and casinos — can create more habitual
gamblers, experts say.

People who enjoy playing traditional lottery tickets, for sale at hundreds of retailers across
the state, eventually will decide to visit a casino, and vice versa, they say.

“There is a crossover,” said Alan Silver, an Ohio University professor who specializes in
gambling. “You’re going to see a definite correlation of the people who like to do that because
they’re (both) gambling.”